Update on new visa requirement for Canadian passport holders visiting the United Arab Emirates

Regular passport holders who intend to travel to the UAE before January 2011 do not require a visa. Upon arrival, Canadians will receive a 30-day entry permit which may be extended for a limited amount of time.

As of January 2, 2011 a visa will be required for tourism and business purposes. Regular passport holders can obtain a visitor or tourist visa through hotels or travel agencies in the UAE or through the offices of Emirates or Etihad Airlines which also offer an online visa application.
Canadians travelling to UAE on business or visiting friends (not staying in hotels or travelling via Emirate or Etihad airlines) will require their sponsor (friend, family, or business contact) to apply for their visa from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once visa approval is obtained, the sponsor will be required to transmit a copy of the visa by email or fax to the Canadian traveler, who will pick up their original visa on arrival in the UAE.

Canadians transiting through the UAE will be able to obtain a transit visa at the airport upon presentation of travel documents indicating that they will leave the UAE within 96 hours to their onward destination.
All diplomatic and special passport holders, or persons travelling on blue passports for diplomatic business, must obtain their visa from the Embassy of the UAE before travelling to the United Arab Emirates.
Canadians (visitor, resident, etc) who travel without a visa and attempt to enter the UAE after January 1, 2011 will be denied entry to the UAE. This is a decision of the UAE government and neither the Canadian Consulate General in Dubai nor the Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi will be able to provide any assistance to these travellers at the port of entry.